Senior Congress leaders on Friday defended the party against allegations levelled by former environment minister Jayanthi Natrajan and questioned the timing of her claims.
“These are baseless allegations , she has no facts. Why did she kept quiet then? Jayanthi Natarjan speaking up now clearly shows that she has been promised some kind of benefit from another party,” said Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza.
Another senior party leader Digvijaya Singh refuted Natrajan’s claims of political interference by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying he would be the last person to do so.
“It’s wrong that Soniaji or Rahulji ever interfered in functioning of UPA Govt, Ministers were free to take decisions. Rahulji would be the last person to interfere in the functioning of a Ministry, if he wanted to, he would have become a Minister or PM himself,” added Digvijaya.
Earlier in the day, Natarajan, in a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, stated she was quitting the party, citing ‘political interference’ and alleging that she received ‘specific requests’ from Rahul Gandhi on environmental clearances.
Natrajan later told the media that the Congress was no longer the party that she had joined 30 years ago.
She further alleged that she had resigned as the environment minister on the orders of party president Sonia Gandhi, but later media speculations made her feel vilified. (ANI)